Scaffolding device



Jan. 25, 1966 BROWN 3,231,043

SGAFFOLDING DEVICE Filed Jan. 29, 1964 INVENTOR.

Y POBEQr/V BROWN ,in being set up for use. in construction and yet isexceedingly rigid and stable when opened for use. present inventionincludes a pair of rigid elongated sus- United States Patent 0 3,231,043SCAFFOLDING DEVECE Robert N. Brown, 25 Colgate Road, Greenlawn, NY.Filed Jan. 29, 1964, sci. No. 340,936 6 Claims. (Cl. 182-65) Thisinvention relates to scaffolding arrangements; and more particularly itconcerns a novel scaffold device of the type which may be used inconnection with work on windows and other openings in houses and similarstructures.

In order to reach the outside of upper story windows so that variousrepair or maintenance work may be performed'thereon, it has generallybeen necessary to provide ladders which extend from the ground to apoint next to the particular window to be worked on. If the window isparticularly wide, two ladders may be required, one

on either side. of the window, with a scaffold platform suspended:between them. Such arrangements are bulky and are difficult to move andset up. The ladders, particularly those which must reach second andthird story windows are also quite expensive and they present a storageproblem when not in use.

According to the present invention there is provided aportable, andcompletely collapsible, scaffold structure characterized by lightness,compactness and great ease This novel structure is also simple Thescaffold arrangement of the pension members having hook shaped uppersections adapted to be hung over the ledge or sill of an open window.The lower sections of these suspension members whereby they may be movedfully together for storage when notin use.

In a preferred arrangement the flat elongated platform ,-member ispivotally attached to the outwardly extending lower-section of one ofthe suspension members and is provided with a series of holes along itsunderside to accommodate a stub element extending upwardly from thelower section of the other suspension member. In such arrangement theplatform member itself may form a portion of the adjustable lengthbracing means, while the. remainder of such bracing means may comprise adiagonal brace member pivotally connected at one end to a'point near thelower section of the one suspension member and an upper horizontal bracemember pivotally connected at one end to a point near the upper sectionof the same suspension member. Each of these two brace members is alsoprovided with a series of holes near its other end. As the suspensionmembers are moved toward or away from each other, various ones of theseholes come into alignment at a point near the upper end of the othersuspension member and may be fastened thereto over a common boltextending from the member.

There has thus been outlined rather broadly the more important featuresof the invention in order that the detailed description thereof thatfollows may be better understood, and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course,additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject of the'claims appended hereto. Thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which thisdis- .closureisbased may readily be utilized as a basis for the gatedplatform 14 rests.

designing of other structures for carrying out the several purposes ofthe invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regardedas including such equivalent constructions as do not depart from thespirit and scope of the invention.

A specific embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes ofillustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawings,forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a scaffold arrangement constitutingone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary section view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showingdifferent positions of adjustment.

The scaffold arrangement shown in FIG. 1 comprise a pair of compositesuspension members 10 and 12, a fiat elongated platform member 14, anadjustable bracing means 16 and a collapsible barrier or fence means,designated generally at 18. The composite suspension members N and 12are made up of rigid tubular shaped upper and lower sections 22 and 24in telescopic arrangement. These upper and lower sections may be securedat any of several positions by means of removable bolts 26 and 27 whichextend through aligned holes 28 in the upper and lower sections of eachsuspension member so as to provide the device with height adjustability.The

upper section 22 of each suspension member is bent back, as at 30, andthen downwardly, as at 31 to provide an inverted U-shaped configuration,allowing the device to be hung over the ledge or sill of an openedwindow (shown in phantom outline). The back leg of the U-shapedconfiguration is given a slight forward taper so as to enhance the ledgesecuring ability of the suspension member. There is also provided asleeve 32 of rubber or similar material, which surrounds the back legsof the U- shaped configuration. This sleeve presses against the innerwall surface below the sill over which the device is hung, thusprotecting the wall from marring or other damage. At the same time thesleeves 32 act to distribute the stresses created by the device over agreater Wall area.

The bent back region 30 of each suspension member has bolted thereto aremovable spacer block 34 of hard rubber. These spacer blocks are shapedand dimensioned to permit the scaffold device to hook over and rest uponwindow sills of various configuration without causing damage to certainelements such as aluminum storm window frames and the like, which oftenprotrude upwardly from the sill. The spacer blocks may easily be removedby unscrewing acorn nuts 35. This enables the blocks to be replaced byother spacer blocks of different configuration in order to accommodatedifferent window ledge configurations. The lower section 24 of eachsuspension member is bent outwardly in the plane of the U-shapedconfiguration of the upper section 22 so as to provide a supportingledge 36 across which the flat elon- A vertical post 38 rises from theouter end of each such supporting ledge to provide a mounting for thecollapsible barrier or fence means 18. These vertical posts may, asshown, be formed integrally with the lower section 24 of the suspensionmembers and bent upwardly from the outer end of the supporting ledges36.

The adjustable bracing means 16 serves to hold the suspension membersltl and 12 in rigid alignment thus prd viding stability and safety tothe device when in use. The bracing means also permits convenientadjustment of the distance between the suspension members so that theymay be made to accommodate windows of various widths; or, when thedevice is not in use, the suspension members maybe brought up againsteach other for complete collapsibility of the device. The bracing means16 includes an upper horizontal bracing member 40, pivotally connectedat one end to a point 41 on the upper section 22 of the first suspensionmember and a diagonal bracing member 42 pivotally connected at one endto a point 43 on the lower section 24 of the same suspension member.These bracing members are each provided with a series of notches 44 neartheir opposite end for fitting (over a common bolt 46 which protrudesfrom the upper section 22 of the second suspension member 12. Thenotches 44 on the bracing members are interconnected by means of acontinuous slot 45. This allows the bracing members to be moved from onenotch to another on the bolt 46 without complete disengagement of thebracing member therefrom. A wingnut '48 is provided to secure thebracing members in place once they have been adjusted to a desired"position. It will be appreciated that with the present arrangement itis possible to provide aidjus'tment of the distance between thesuspension members 10 and 12 simply by loosening a single screwconnection on one of these members.

The platform member 14 is pivotally secured at one end to the supportingledge 36 of the first suspension memher it). For this purpose there areprovided a pair of strap members 50 which encircle the supporting ledgeand are attached on either side thereof to the underside of the platformmember. The other end of the platform memher is provided with a seriesof holes 52 along its length. As shown in FIG. 2, these holesaccommodate a stub member 54 which extends upwardly from the supportingledge 36 of the second suspension member 12.

It can be seen that when the platform member rests fiat across thesupporting ledges 36 of the two suspension members 1'0 and 12, it isheld in fixed relation to both suspension members. In this manner theplatform member cooperates with the upper horizontal and the diagonalbracing members to maintain the suspension members in a rigid fixedrelationship thus ensuring stability and safety during use.

It will also be appreciated that while the device is in use and issupporting weight "on the platform member, the engagement with the ledge36 of the second suspension member 12 is enhanced and rendered moresecure; yet when weight is removed from the platform, and it is desiredto change the distance between the suspension membe'rs, the platformmember need merely be pivoted upwardly about the supporting ledge 36 ofthe first suspension member '10 so as to bring itout of engagement withthe stub member 54 on the second suspension member 12. When adjustmentof the distance between the suspension members 10 and 12 has beencompleted, the platform member is then pivoted back down so that adifferent one of its holes 52 accommodates the stub member 54 on thesupporting ledge of the second suspension member 12.. The spacingbetween the holes '52 in the platform member corresponds to the spacingbetween the notches 44 of the horizontal bracing member 40. This servesto main'tainthe two suspension members in parallel align- 'ment in eachposition of adjustment.

In order to reduce the extent of stress concentration in the regionwhere the supporting ledges 36 join the lower sections 24 of eachsuspension member, there are provided tension members, such as chains'56 which extend upwardly from the outer end of each supporting ledge36, and back to hooks 60 in the upper section 22 of each respectivesuspension member. These chains are secured to the hooks 60 overdifferent links according to the amount by which the upper and lowersections of the sus pension memebers are telescoped with respect to eachother.

The collapsible barrier or fence means 18 includes a system 10f bars 62pivotally connected in a lazy tong arrangernent and attached to thevertical posts 33 which 7 upper portion 22 of each suspension member.

rise from the outer end of each supporting ledge 35. This provides aprotective railing effect and yet allows the suspension members to bemoved toward and away from each other without interference. It will beappreciated that the bars 62 are connected only at their ends so as topermit the collapsing of the lazy tongue configuration as the suspensionmembers 10 and 12 are moved toward each other. In order to reinforce thevertical posts and fence means there are provided end brace members 64which extend from the top of each vertical post back to the These endbrace members further cooperate with the tension chains 55 to provide aprotective fencing effect at each end of the platform.

The manner in which the platform member 14 and the adjustable bracingmeans 16 cooperate with the suspension members 10 and 12 to provideconvenient adjustability is illustrated in FIG. 3. In position (a)(shown in dotted outline), the device is opened to its maximum width,with the platform member 14 engaging the supporting ledge 36 of thesecond suspension member 12 at the outermost of its series of holes 52,and the Upper horizontal and the diagonal bracing members =40 and 42similarly engaging the common bolt 46 on the second susension member 12at the outermost of their respective series of notches 44. The s'caifoldmay easily be adjusted to a narrower width, for example, to accommodatea narrower window, simply by loosening or removing the wing'nut 48 fromthe common bolt 46 so that the upper horizontal and the diagonal bracingmembers may be moved to engage the bolt through different notches. Atthe same time the platform member 14 is pivoted upwardly to disengage itfrom the stub member 54. The second suspension member 12 may then bemoved .to position b (shown in solid outline). The upper horizontal anddiagonal bracing members 4-0 and '42 are thereafter secured in place andthe platform member 14 is returned to the supporting ledge 36 of thesecond suspension member 12 so that its stub member 54 engages acorresponding one of the holes 52 in the platform member. It can be seenthat the device may readily be collapsed for storage simply by pivotingthe platform member 14 fully up into the plane of the first suspensionmember 10, and then after disengaging the brace members 40 and '42,bringing the two suspension members up against each other.

Also, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the suspension members Iii and 12 areshown in their'fully extended position. The platform 14- may easily beraised closer to the height of the window sill simply by removing thebolts 26 and 27 and moving the lower sections 24 up into theirrespective upper sections 22. The bolts 26 and 27 are thereafterreplaced to secure the suspension members 10 and 12 at a differentlength. In making the above-described adjustment the diagonal bracingmember 42 is loosened from the bolt 46 and readjusted to a new positionso as to maintain the same bracing effect even though the platform ischanged to a different height.

Having thus described my invention with particular reference to thepreferred form thereof, .it will be obvious to those skilled in the artto which the invention pertains, after understanding my invention, thatvarious change and modifications may be made therein without departingfrom the spirit and scope of my invention, as defined by the claimsappended thereto.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

I claim:

1. A portable scaifolding comprising: first and second rigid elongatedsuspension members, the upper section of each of said members projectingback and down and formed to hook over the sill of an open window, thelower section of each of said suspension members having supportingledges extending outwardly therefrom in the plane of but opposite indirection to the projection of said hook formed upper portion, a fiatelongated platform member for resting across each of said supportingledges, attachment means securing said platform member to each of saidsupporting ledges, one of said attachment means being arranged to permitreleasable coupling between the ledge of said first suspension memberand various points distributed along said platform, and adjustablelength bracing means including an upper horizontal brace member fixed atone end to the upper section of said first suspension member andreleasably attachable at various points therealong in the vicinity ofits other end to the upper section of the other suspension member, and adiagonal brace member pivotally connected at one end to the lowersection of said first suspension member and releasably attachable atpoints therealong in the vicinity of its other end to the upper sectionof the second suspension member.

2. A portable scafiolding comprising: first and second compositesuspension members formed of upper and lower rigid tubular telescopingsections, means for maintaining said tubular sections at any of severalpoints of extension, said upper sections being bent backwardly thendownwardly in inverted U-shaped configuration, said lower sectionshaving supporting ledges, a fiat elongated platform member for restingacross each of said supporting ledges, said platform member beingpivotally atttached to the supporting ledge of said first suspensionmember and detachably securable at various points distributed therealongto the supporting ledge of said second suspension member, adjustablelength bracing means including an upper horizontal brace memberpivotally attached at one end to the upper section of said firstsuspension member and a diagonal brace member pivotally attached at oneend to the lower section of said first suspension member, each of saidbrace members being provided with a series of aligned holes toward itsother end and bolting means for releasably attaching said horizontal anddiagonal brace members, via said holes, at a common location at theupper section of said second suspension member.

3. The device described in claim 2 further including an adjustablelength tension member extending from the outer end of each of saidsupporting ledges to the upper section of its respective supportingmember.

4. The device described in claim 2 further including collapsible barriermeans extending upwardly along the edge of said elongated platformmember.

5. The device described in claim 4 further including vertical postsextending upwardly from the outer end of each of said supporting ledgesand mounting said collapsible barrier.

6. A portable scaffolding device comprising: first and second suspensionmembers each formed of upper and lower tubular sections in telescopicengagement the upper sections being bent back and then downwardly in aninverted U-shaped configuration to hook over the sill of an open window,the lower sections being bent outwardly to form supporting ledges, andthen upwardly to form vertical posts, a fiat elongated platform memberpivotally attached near one end to the supporting ledge of said firstsuspension member, a stub member extending upwardly from the supportingledge of said second suspension member, said platform member beingprovided with a series of holes along a line toward its other end, saidholes being engageable by said stub member, an upper horizontal bracingmember pivotally connected at one end to the upper section of said firstsuspension member, a diagonal bracing member pivotally connected at oneend to the lower section of said first suspension member each of saidbracing members being provided with openings distributed therealongtoward their opposite end, said openings being engageable with a commonbolt extending outwardly from the upper section of the other suspensionmember, linked tension members extending from the outer end of each ofsaid supporting ledge, means located on the upper section of eachsuspension member for engaging one of the links of said tension membersand collapsible fence means mounted between said vertical posts.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 957,324 5/1910Gall 182150 1,295,453 2/1919 Edland 182-55 1,347,016 7/1920 Crowe 1S2581,868,187 7/1932 Avallone 18255 2,033,497 3/1936 Victor l82-61 2,685,5726/ 1937 Burda 18256 2,394,221 2/1946 Waltz 182-152 HARRISON R. MOSELEY,Primary Examiner.

REINALDO P. MACHADG, Examiner.

1. A PORTABLE SCAFFOLDING COMPRISING; FIRST AND SECOND RIGID ELONGATEDSUSPENSION MEMBERS, THE UPPER SECTION OF EACH OF SAID MEMBER PROJECTINGBACK AND DOWN AND FORMED TO HOOK OVER THE SILL OF AN OPEN WINDOW, THELOWER SECTION OF EACH OF SAID SUSPENSION MEMBERS HAVING SUPPORTINGLEDGES EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM IN THE PLANE OF BUT OPPOSITE INDIRECTION TO THE PROJECTION OF SAID HOOK FORMED UPPER PORTION, A FLATELONGATED PLATFORM MEMBER FOR RESTING ACROSS EACH OF SAID SUPPORTINGLEDGES, ATTACHMENT MEANS SECURING SAID PLATFORM MEMBER TO EACH OF SAIDSUPPORTING LEDGES, ONE OF SAID ATTACHMENT MEANS BEING ARRANGED TO PERMITRELEASABLE COUPLING BETWEEN THE LEDGE OF SAID FIRST SUSPENSION MEMBERAND VARIOUS POINTS DISTRIBUTED ALONG SAID PLATFORM, AND ADJUSTABLELENGTH BRACING MEANS INCLUDING AN UPPER HORIZONTAL BRACE MEMBER FIXED ATONE END TO THE UPPER SECTION OF SAID FIRST SUSPENSION MEMEBR ANDRELEASABLY ATTACHABLE AT VARIOUS POINTS THEREALONG IN THE VICINITY OFITS OTHER END TO THE UPPER SECTION OF THE OTHER SUSPENSION MEMBER, AND ADIAGONAL BRACE MEMBER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ONE END TO THE LOWERSECTION OF SAID FIRST SUSPENSION MEMBER AND RELEASABLY ATTACHABLE ATPOINTS THEREALONG IN THE VICINITY OF ITS OTHER END TO THE UPPER SECTIONOF THE SECOND SUSPENSION MEMBER.